CHEROKEE, March 11,
2006—Cherokee Preservation Foundation,
the Office of the Principal Chief of
the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians,
and Harrah’s Cherokee Casino
and Hotel announced today that they
will again sponsor the Cherokee Day
of Caring, an annual event begun in
2005 that builds on the Cherokees’ ga-du-gi
tradition of community service. Now
is the time for volunteers to sign
up to help neighbors who are unable
to do much-needed work on their homes,
yards or gardens. The all-day community
service event will take place on June
9 within the ten communities of the
EBCI.
During the daylong event,
members of the tribe and community
will help
ten
families or individuals in particular
need who have been nominated by their
communities' clubs. Volunteers will
lend a hand with painting, yard clean-up,
gardening, and fix-it projects.
Other
features of the Cherokee Day of Caring
will be the honoring of ten
"Quiet Heroes” who have
served their communities unselfishly,
and
for the first time, a Good Neighbor
Award that honors someone who has significantly
helped members of the EBCI, but who
does not live in one of the EBCI communities.
"
It is important for our community to
honor and continue the Cherokee tradition
of ga-du-gi, or helping hands,” said
Paula Nelson, who serves as community
development coordinator for the Qualla
Boundary. “Working together toward
a common goal during the Cherokee Day
of Caring, all of us benefit and we
strengthen our self-reliance as a people.”
No
special skills are necessary in order
to participate, but they would
be welcomed. Anyone who can help during
the entire eight-hour period between
8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. is urged to
call 497-3521 and ask for Valorie Welch
or Paula Nelson. Harrah’s employees
who would like to volunteer should
contact Janna Lambert at 487-8853.
Tribal government employees who want
to participate should consult first
with their supervisor and then contact
Annette Saunooke at 497-7029.
About the Eastern Band
of Cherokee Indians
The Eastern Band
of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) is one of
the three federally
recognized Cherokee tribes and the
only one east of the Mississippi River.
There are approximately 13,000 EBCI
members, many of whom live on the Qualla
Boundary, more than 56,000 acres held
in trust by the federal government
specifically for the EBCI.
About Harrah’s
Cherokee Casino and Hotel
Harrah's Cherokee
is an enterprise of the Eastern Band
of Cherokee Indians
and managed by Harrah's Entertainment
Inc. Located one mile from the downtown
area of Cherokee, the facility features
a gaming area, a hotel, a conference
center and restaurants. Harrah’s
Cherokee is one of the largest employers
in North Carolina west of Charlotte.
Harrah’s Cherokee seeks to make
positive change in the region through
employment, volunteerism and financial
contributions to non-profit groups.
About Cherokee Preservation
Foundation
Cherokee Preservation
Foundation (CPFdn) was established
on November
14, 2000,
as part of the Second Amendment to
the Tribal-State Compact between the
EBCI and the State of North Carolina.
It is an independent nonprofit foundation
funded by the EBCI from gaming revenues
generated by the Tribe. CPFdn is not
part of or associated with any for-profit
gaming entity. Since CPFdn’s
inception, it has made 265 grants totaling
more than $17.8 million..
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